Reasons why you want to be a nurse

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I thought it would be a good idea to make a thread about reasons why we want to be nurses. That way when we're struggling in our pre-reqs (especially those of us just starting out who have no idea what to expect) and wondering if we can handle everything we can read reminders of why we, ourselves, want to be nurses, and why others want to be nurses as well. I guess it will serve as a form of inspiration or motivation if needed.

Personally, I want to be a nurse because I have always been interested in the medical field and I have always wanted to have a career in which I change lives. In nursing, I could possibly even save lives. I absolutely love to help people, I think it is the most fulfilling thing in the world, and nursing will allow me to do this on a daily basis. Also, it provides endless job opportunities as well as endless opportunities to volunteer in my community.

Why do you want to be a nurse?

wrobelchic- My mom was recently in the hospital- icu- and I felt the same. I didnt understand anythign going on to the level I wanted to.

And I would be lying if I didnt say finances came into play. Around here starting pay for nurses is right around avg salary for all occupations, including those who have been working for years and years.

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Specializes in LTC.

Golden Scroll, where are you from? I'm from NY. Right now, I work in a County owned LTC facility and we're union so all LPN's make the same amount. Starting I will make only approximately $17 which is what my Sister-in-Law (working in the same facility) is making and she's been a nurse going on 3 years. At $17 it's only about a $4 pay raise for me going from CNA to LPN. Are these dollars amounts even comparable to your area?

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Wrobelchic- Im in VA. Lpns dont make near as much in my area as rn's. My neighbor is an lpn and makes decent money, I hear, but she also has more duties than most lpns, and has been working at it for years.

From what I hear lpns start at around $13 here. RNs start near $20 not counting differentials. The avg salary in my area is $42,000 a yr, approx, and thats for all job areas combined. So rn's start off pretty close to that, but lpn's, not so much.

I don't know the cost of living difference between NY and here. WE had a pretty low cost of living, but in recent years its been skyrocketing. No idea why, except maybe decent job security in this area(lots of military and the largest shipbuilder in the country) Either way, I am pretty sure its more expensive in new york, so while the pay here may seem less, it'll buy you at least the same, if not more, for your buck.

Now if only homes would stop skyrocketing...We are lucky we bought when we did!

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Most people who know me well can't believe that I went into nursing. When I was 12 my mom was dx with breast cancer I could not even go to the hospital to see her because I was so freaked out I remember watching her and being scared to death that I would get cancer. I could not stand to look at people who was sick!

When I was 28 the factory I worked at for years was closing, my sister who is an RN talked to me at length about the benefits of nursing..Not wanting to commit to school just yet I decided to take a position as a NA..the day I was to start I about called in..my husband gave me this big lecture about trying something new and hey you might like it. Well I loved it! This past June I was set to start classes for my pre-reqs..after two years of working as an NA and finally thinking I had what it takes to do this, my twin sister was dx with breast cancer. I made a choice to put off school to help her out and help with her children. I am planning on going to school but I want to make sure she is going to be ok. The reason I want to be a nurse is for my family..my pts are my family.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I didn't grow up knowing I wanted to be a nurse, but I knew I wanted to do something in the medical field, I just wasn't sure what. I've spent the last almost four years in veterinary nursing, and have really loved learning all of the stuff there, and getting to connect with my patients and their owners. I used to think that I couldn't be a human nurse because I didn't like people, but now after working with people in this setting (as opposed to retail) I actually really love being able to find a connection with people. And I know that I don't want to be the one to make the hard decisions and give the bad news like the doctor. Plus there is the benefit of better pay on the human side of course ;P

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I have always been interested in the medical field but I would say that I have wanted to become a nurse for a long time. I remember when I had surgery when I was 5 and the one thing that sticks in my mind still till this day is how comforting and reasuring the nurse was, when I waiting to go into the operating room the nurse just kept reasuring me and making sure that I was ok. That has always stuck with me and that is one big reason why I want to become a nurse so that I can give a patient the same feeling of calm and reasurance that I recieved plus I love science and learning about the human body and how it works has always interested me!!! Nurses rock!!! I cannot wait until I start nursing school, I have a way to go but I know I will get their soon!!!:nurse::nurse:Nurses are the best!!!

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Hello everyone! One of the primary reasons I want to be a nurse is because I want to learn a life skill that no matter what the state of the country, or world for that matter, I can be useful to others and myself. I really enjoy talking with and caring for the older generation. I see myself nursing them more than pediatrics, but time will tell.

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I have always been drawn to the medical profession. Fall of 1993, I went to college on scholarship and was designated pre-med. My sophmore year I was confronted with a choice, study or drink myself silly. I made the wrong choice. Looking back, I just wasn't mature enough to attend college.

Since that time, I've made a pretty good living in sales. I've made a nice 6 figure income and raised a family. However, I was miserable. I hated that I felt there was no purpose to my job. I always looked back and regreted that I had squandered the greatest opportunity in my life. So, I decided to do something about it.

I'm not going to be a nurse because of the money. I had money. I'm not going to be a nurse because of the stability. I don't believe the profession is as stable as some may believe. I'm going to be a nurse because I believe there's not a more noble profession in the world. To be able to help the sick get well. Or, to be able to comfort those who are dying. We do God's work.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.
missy120808 said:
I have always been interested in the medical field but I would say that I have wanted to become a nurse for a long time. I remember when I had surgery when I was 5 and the one thing that sticks in my mind still till this day is how comforting and reasuring the nurse was, when I waiting to go into the operating room the nurse just kept reasuring me and making sure that I was ok. That has always stuck with me and that is one big reason why I want to become a nurse so that I can give a patient the same feeling of calm and reasurance that I recieved plus I love science and learning about the human body and how it works has always interested me!!! Nurses rock!!! I cannot wait until I start nursing school, I have a way to go but I know I will get their soon!!!:nurse::nurse:Nurses are the best!!!

That kind of sounds like my reason---except it was my mom's experience with hospice that really opened my eyes. The nurses and the rest of the staff were so kind and competant, it really stuck with me. And now I'm on my way to doing the same.

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I currently hold a social work degree and worked primarily with young children and their families. I worked in the field for a while after earning my degree and it was just so sad all the time and we were so limited on what we could do to help. It really depressed me because i never really felt like I was making a difference. I started doing research and decided I wanted to be a nurse but my husband didn't want me to because of possible dangers like needle sticks.

So I enrolled in school and was going to start a radiology tech program and then found out I needed to have a surgery if I was ever to have children. The nurses that took care of me through the whole experience from office visits, pre-op, post and follow ups were the most wonderful people and I didnt forget that.

Then my friend ended up in the hospital with pre term labor. She was carrying twins and was in the hospital for several weeks. Her nurses were wonderful too throughout everything. They were there for her when she went into labor, when the twins took their first breaths, and then when they both passed away. Several of those nurses sat and cried with my friend. It was a very touching experience that they would care so much. It made me realize that I had to do it, that this was the way I was going to make a difference!

So I applied, got accepted and am starting Aug 20th!

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I want to be a nurse so I can become a midwife (obviously, by my username). I want to be a midwife because my daughter was born into the hands of 2 wonderful midwives, as, God willing, will the rest of our future children. I want to be a part of the joy and empowerment that comes from helping women manage their pregnancies and births the way they want.

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After my third child was born with a heart defect called transposition of the great vessels that required open heart surgery and seeing how caring/helpful/supportive the NICU nurses were to him and us, I knew that is what i wanted to do with my life.

Cheryl

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